Bill To Expand Education Savings Account Eligibility Heads To Senate Education Committee
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Legislation that would extend opportunities provided by the state’s Education Savings Account to even more students is progressing through the Senate.
Senate Bill 0012 (SB0012), sponsored by Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10), passed on first and second consideration in January and has been placed on the calendar of the Senate Education Committee for February 8.
The bill’s prime co-sponsors are Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol-District 4) and Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson-District 11).
As introduced, the bill expands the eligibility criteria for an education savings account to include students zoned to attend a school in an LEA with at least five schools, instead of at least 10, identified as being in the bottom 10 percent of schools in 2017 and identified as priority schools in the 2015, 2018, and 2021 priority school cycles. – Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.
The Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) Program currently provides funding for eligible students in Davidson and Shelby counties to assist with expenses related to students’ education, such as tutoring costs, post-secondary education course fees, and tuition and related expenses at approved private schools.
The updated legislation would open that funding assistance up to even more students across the state.
The companion House Bill 0433 (HB0433) is sponsored by Representative Mark White (R-Memphis-District 83). The prime co-sponsors are Representative Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain-District 27) and Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61).
The bill would take effect immediately upon becoming law.
If you are in favor of this bill and would like to express your support, please contact the members of the committee as listed below prior to February 8.
Senate Education Committee Members
Jon Lundberg (Chair) (R)- sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5761
Bill Powers (Vice-Chair) (R) – sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2734
Raumesh Akbari (2nd Vice-Chair) (D) – sen.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1767
Rusty Crowe (R) – sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2468
Todd Gardenhire (Chair) (R)- sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6682
Ferrell Haile (R) – sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1999
Joey Hensley (R) – sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3100
Mark Pody (R) – sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2421
Dawn White (R) – sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6853
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
This bill does not go nearly far enough. If Education Savings Accounts help students in low-performing schools, why would it not help other students as well?
There are too many powers that be who want to keep the government-run school monopoly in place regardless of the impact on our next generation.